Raúl Jiménez: From Fighting for His Life to Hero in World Cup
Mexican striker Raúl Jiménez, who suffered a severe head injury in 2020, scored a goal in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, becoming one of the main heroes of the evening.
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In the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0. Striker Raúl Jiménez scored the second goal in the 67th minute, triggering an emotional reaction as he burst into tears. It was his first start in a World Cup match; previously, he had come off the bench six times.
Jiménez scored his 46th goal for Mexico in 125 appearances, placing him second on the all-time scorers list behind Javier Hernández (Chicharito) with 52 goals.
In November 2020, during an English Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal, Jiménez collided with David Luiz, suffering a serious skull fracture. He lost consciousness and received emergency treatment on the field, including an oxygen mask. Teammates and family feared for his life.
His recovery was lengthy: he was not allowed to train with the team for six months and returned to the pitch after eight months. He scored his first goal after the injury in September 2021.
In 2023, he joined Fulham, where he spent three seasons, and only this week it was confirmed he would return to Wanderers.
After the match, former England defender Gary Neville told ITV that this might be the greatest moment of Jiménez's career – scoring in front of 80,000 fans in his own country.
The 2026 World Cup is the first with 48 teams, hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Teams are divided into 12 groups of four. The knockout stage begins on June 28, and the final is scheduled for July 19. The 2022 champions are Argentina.
